Orchard Road is a long stretch located to the north of the Singapore River, populated largely by a multitude of world-famous shopping malls. Thousands upon thousands of travelers and locals alike flock the Orchard Road malls, and such a frequented area naturally has a wide variety of hotels to suit the needs of its visitors.
Budget accommodations in the Orchard district come in the form of hostels and dorm-style establishments. A good example would be the YMCA International House on 1 Orchard Road, which has dorm-style rooms but also has a gym and pool. Another example is Habitat Hostels, which has breakfasts and Wi-Fi internet access.
If one wants to take his accommodations a notch higher, Orchard hosts some of the finest mid-range establishments in the country. The Elizabeth hotel is an older establishment that offers excellent value for money. The colonial-style Rendezvous Hotel offers affordable rates despite the relatively modern amenities. Other mid-range hotels include the Orchard Parade Hotel and the YWCA Fort Canning Lodge.
While budget and mid-range hotels are available options for those on tight budgets, the number of high-end luxury hotels is where Orchard truly shines. Right at the center of the district is the Marriott, with Tang’s Department Store located in the building’s basement. Other luxury establishments include the Shangri-La, the Hilton Singapore, and the Grand Hyatt Singapore. The definitive features of these hotels are being located conveniently at or near the district’s center and, of course, offering a high level of comfort, luxury, and excellent service.
Once you step outside your Orchard Road Singapore hotel, there should be one thing on your mind, and that thing is something the surrounding establishments will be reminding every person: Shopping! But shopping is not the only thing worth doing in the Orchard Road area.
The stretch is also lined with a trio of Singapore’s best museums: The National Museum of Singapore, the Singapore Art Museum, and a British-headquarters-turned-museum called the Battle Box. There are also many places for dining, drinking, and other events and activities.
Getting around the Orchard Road area should be a breeze. Hopping from mall to mall should be doable even on foot. There is also an underground walkway system that links various areas within the district, such as the MRT station in Orchard and Ion Orchard to the eastern Lucky Plaza, the western Wheelock Place, and the Marriott to the north.
Staying at a hotel in the Orchard Road district is a fun and convenient way to experience what is perhaps the densest shopping district in the whole world. With a good range of Singapore hotels that cover the entire budget and target market spectrum, visitors and tourists of all budgets can book rooms right within the district.
Continue reading about Singapore Hotels – A Peek Into Orchard Road
The Dumpling Festival which is held annually is enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike. This significant national festival is related to an interesting ancient Chinese legend. Qu Yuan the patriotic poet and statesman is believed to have thrown himself to the Milo River to show his strong disapproval of injustice and corruption caused to the fishermen. It is also believed that the local fishing community tried hard to save his body from the demons. As a result they began to throw rice in to the river as offerings and started to beat drums and gongs.
So, with time this became an annual event. The Chinese community living in Singapore celebrates the Dumpling Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month each year. They celebrate this by organising colourful dragon boat races and consume hundreds and hundreds of dumplings. They relate the dragon races to the search for the body of their beloved Qu Yuan.
Zongzi or dumplings are small rice packets that are enclosed in bamboo leaves. To prevent the dragons from eating the rice packets, the people tied them with bright colour silk threads.
Since recent times many new items have added more colour and excitement to the Dumpling Festival. These new items include lion dances, Chinese opera and orchestra shows and karaoke evenings. The highlight of the festival happens when the people of the parade gather at the Albert Mall.
This vibrant and fun filled festival can be enjoyed by staying at a nearby Singapore luxury hotel such as Raffles Hotel, Singapore which is renowned for offering world class service along with an extensive range of contemporary amenities.